Amazon Expands Satellite Connectivity and High-Speed Internet Capabilities
Amazon has announced two major updates: new progress on its satellite-based connectivity programme and a large-scale expansion of AI infrastructure for U.S. government agencies.
The company is preparing to release an enterprise preview of Amazon Leo, its low Earth orbit satellite service, while also committing up to $50 billion to build new AI and high-performance computing (HPC) capacity for federal users starting in 2026.
Amazon confirmed that the new Leo Ultra antenna will deliver download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 400 Mbps. Meanwhile, the planned AWS infrastructure investment will add nearly 1.3 GW of computing power across AWS Top Secret, AWS Secret, and AWS GovCloud (US) Regions.
Both developments are intended to support organisations that require secure, high-speed connectivity paired with advanced compute resources. AWS CEO Matt Garman said agencies will gain expanded access to cutting-edge AI capabilities that can accelerate essential missions ranging from cybersecurity to drug discovery.
Amazon Leo is built to provide high-speed internet to businesses and public-sector groups operating in regions with limited network access. The company currently has more than 150 satellites in orbit as it transitions from deployment to early commercial trials.
Chris Weber, vice president of consumer and enterprise business for Amazon Leo, noted that the service has been engineered to meet the needs of highly complex commercial and government environments.
AI and HPC Investment to Strengthen Federal Capabilities
Amazon also showcased the final production design of the Leo Ultra antenna, describing it as the fastest commercial phased-array terminal it has developed. The device features custom silicon, full-duplex functionality, and seamless integration with enterprise networks, supporting use cases like real-time data processing and cloud connectivity.
The service will connect directly to AWS through options such as Direct to AWS and Private Network Interconnect. The enterprise preview involves partners like Hunt Energy Holdings across sectors including energy, aviation, agriculture, and logistics, with select customers set to begin testing Leo Pro and Leo Ultra hardware.
The $50 billion investment will launch new infrastructure construction in 2026, expanding access to technologies such as Amazon SageMaker, Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Nova, Anthropic Claude, AWS Trainium chips, and NVIDIA AI systems.
According to Amazon, this expansion will support missions in national security, scientific discovery, and autonomous systems, helping agencies handle massive datasets, simulate complex environments, and shorten development and research timelines.
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